Locking mechanism



Oct. 12 1926.

H. A. DOUGLAS LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12 ,Qf1926. I 1,602,888 H.;.A. DOUGLAS LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1925 8 2 Sheets-sheaf g Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS, or BRONSON, MICHIGAN.

LOCKING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,899.

My invention relates to locking mechanism an l is of particular service in connection with combined switches for governing the ignition or power controlling circuits and the'lighting circuits oi automotive vehicles and which combined switches employ switch handles for controlling the lighting circuits and locks for controlling the ignition or power controlling circuits. A prior switch oi? this class is provided with an enclosing casing tor the contacting mechanism, this casing having a central tubular portion projecting outwardly beyond the casing into the hollow hub of the lighting circuit controlling handle. This tubular casing portion that is surrounded by the hub of a handle also constitutes a hollow member of the lock. This hollow lock member encloses a tumbler barrel that carries a number of tumblers which enter openings formed in opposite sides 01": the hollow lock member after the tumbler barrel is turned by the rted key to bring the tumblers into regin ister with, said openings and in consequence of the withdrawal of the key following this turning moven'ient off the tumbler barrel, the limibler barrel being locked in fixed relation with the hollow lock member when the tumblers enter the openings in this member. When the key is inserted to withdraw the tumblers from said openings, the tumbler barrel may be turned by the inserted key to remove the tumblers from alignment with the openings to bring the tumblers out of locking relation with the hollow lock member, impertorate portions of this mem her then holding the tumblers out of looking relation with it. The tumbler barrel is in operating relation {with the contact actuator within the casing that governs the ignition circuit. When the key is inserted and turned to turn the tumbler barrel to an unlockel position. the ignition circuit is consequently closed. lVhen the key is reversey turned, the tumbler barrel is reverselyturned, and the ignition circuit is consequently opened, the tumblers then being in register with the openings in the hollow lock member. When the key is withdrawn following its reversed turning movement, the tumblers are free to enter the (evenings in the hollow lock member to lock the igmition circuit open.

In these prior switches, the tumble-r barrel or rotatable lock member was so positioned withrelation to thehandle, that occas onally the handle, in being moved to adjust the lighting circuits, would turn this va handle operated, light circuit controlling,

contact actuating ring within a switch cas ing, a second contact actuating ring surrounded by the first and in controlling relation to the ignition circuit, and a hollow lock member surrounded by the rings and extending into the casing and having tumbler receiving openings or other locking formations within the casing. V This tubular or hollow lock member is desirably fixedly secured at its outer end to the outer end wall of the. casing, thereby constituting an inward continuation. of the casing instead of an outward continuation of the casing as hitherto. This continuation also enables me to apply the lock directly to the ignition circuit controlling contact actuating ring to further lock the ignition circuit open, a feature that is employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention will be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings in which-Fig. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear View; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, on larger scale, with the key inserted; Fig. 4: is a sectional view .on line 4.4t oi. Fig. 3, on a smaller scale; Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 3 Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a part of the casing in section and illustrating the lock mechanism in side elevation, Fig. 8 is a: sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 4, on a larger scale; Fig; 10 is a sectional: view on line ]'O-10 ot'Fi-g. 9, on a'sinaller scalegFig. 11 is a side elevation ing.

of the switch, a mounting panel or board being shown in section; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the switch; Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the front end wall of the casing with the inwardly extending tubular extension prior to the assembly of the tumbler bar rel; Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the parts shown in Fig. 13 prior to their assembly; and Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relationship of the handle and lock with the switching meclninism.

The switching mechanism to be later described is enclosed within a casing that is preferably cylindrical. The casing is desirably formed of sheet metal and has one end wall 1 integrally formed with its cylindrical wall 2. The other end wall of the casing is illustrated in the form of a, contact carrying disc 3 of insulating material, this disc having bayonet pins 4 which are received in bayonet slots 5 formed in the casing wall 2. he end wall 3 thus constitutes a removable closure affording access to the interior of the casing for th purpose of locating the operating parts of the switching mechanism therein and for the inspection and replace ment of these parts. The disc is held in assembly with the casing by spring pressure exerted rearwardly thereon and furnished by spring-pressed contacts, later to be described, that are contained in the cas- As will more fully appear, some of these spring-pressed contacts are complemental to the lighting circuit contacts 6, 7, 8 and 9 carried by the closure disc 3 and other of these spi.'ing- )ressed contacts are complemental to and engageable with the magneto contact 10, the battery contact 11, and the ignition contact 12, also carried by the disc 3. The contacts 13, 14, and 16, that pertain to the contacts 6, 7, 8 and S), are in the nature of bulging formations formed in a ring 17, this ring and these contacts being diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 15. The contacts 18, 19 that pertain to the contacts 10, 11 and 12 are also in the nature of bulging formations which, in the case of these contacts, are formed in a triangular metallic plate 20. The metallic ring 17 and the metallic plate are pressed toward the contact carrying disc 3 in order that the contacts on said ring and plate may press against the complemental contacts on the carrier 3 or on the insulation between these contacts, according to the circuit adjustment desired, it being observed, however, that the complemental contacts 12 and 19 are on the axis of the casing and are in constant engagement. Th desired spring pressure is exerted by preferably providing each of the contacts 13, 14, 15 and 16 on the ring 17, the contact 19 10- cated at one corner of the plate 20, and the other corners, 21 and 22, of the plate 20 that are unbulged, with the spring devices similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8, this figure showing a spring device thatpertains to the plate 20. The spring device shown, includes a spring barrel 23 which houses a spring 24 and which presses the element (20 or 17) carrying it, toward the contact carrier 3. The springs 24, in the construction illustrated, carry no essential parts of the currents. The spring barrels 23 constitute means for flexibly coup ling the contact carriers 17 and 20 with the actuators for these contact carriers. The actuator for the triangular contact carrying plate 20 is desirably in the form of an insulating ring 26 which is coaxial with the casing and with the pivot contact. 19 upon the plate 20 and the contact 12 complemental to this contact 19. The spring barrels 23 carried by the plate 20 are slidingly received within recesses 27 formed in the ring 26 (Fig. 8). As the ring 26 is turned, by means which will later be described, the contact 18 on the plate 20 will ride into and out of cavities formed in the contacts 10 and 11 and also formed in the insulating contact carrying disc 3, the extent to which the ring 26 is spring-pressed away from the disc 3 being limited, as will later appear.

The contact actuator for the contact carrying ring 17 is desirably in the nature of another insulating ring 28 that is located in the zone of and which surrounds the ring 26, the ring 28 being coaxial with the casing and the rings 17 and 26. The rings 17 and 28 are substantially of the same diameters and are coupled in av manner similar to that in which the ring 26 and the plate 20 are coupled as hitherto stated. The bore of the ring 28 has radially disposed enlargements 29 which receive the prongs 30 formed upon the hub portion 31 of a handle 32 and which project through arcuate slots 33 formed through the end wall 1 and concentric there with. A plate 34, preferably circular and slightly dished, is suitably assembled with the casing end wall 1 upon the exterior thereof, as by means of rivets The plate' 34, may, if desired, constitute the mounting plate for the switch structure in which event it is desirably formed with an inset rim portion 34 that is received behind the dash board or other mounting board 34 mounting screws 34 being passed through the mounting board and screwed into the inset rim portion 34 of the plate 34. The handle hub 31 has a circular flange portion 31 that is concentric with the casing and which directly carries the prongs 30. This circular portion 31 is in the nature of a flange off-set with respect to the body portion of the hub surrounded thereby to form Hit] ill

an annular shoulder 36 concentric with the handle and casing and engaging the inner edge of the circular opening formed in the plate 34 concentrically with the handle and casing. The flange 31 is received in the space between the plate 34 and the casing end wall 1, the flange being in engagement with both plate and end wall at its circular edge to restrain the handle from movement along the casing axis. The shoulder 36 and the surrounding plate 34 confine the handle to turning movement upon the axis of the casing, a result which is furthered by the engagement of the circular edge of the fiange with the bulged portion of the end wall, as illustrated in F ig. 9. The range of oscillation of the handle is defined by the lengths of the arcuate slots 33, this range of movement being suflicient to enable the handle to turn the contact actuator 28 in either direction and to a sufiicient extent to closethe selected lighting circuit or to open all lighting circuits.

The contact actuator 26 that determines the position of the plate 20 is, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, operated by a lock tumbler barrel 37 which is in line with the axis of the handle and is coniined within the hollow lock member 38 which is preferably in the nature of a tu bular extension of the casing end wall 1 that projects fromthis casing end wall into the interior of the casing. The tubular lock member 38 has its inner end portion 39 inturned and has inturned outer ears 40, the parts 39 and 40 engaging adjacent shoulder portions of the tumbler barrel 37 as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3 to confine the tumbler barrel to a plane of rotation that is fixed. with respect to the casing. The hollow lock member 38 is formed with ears 41 between which are received opposite arcuate edge portions 42 in the rim of an opening 43 formed centrally through the casing end wall 1. coaxially with elements 26, 28, 31, 37 and 38. The edge portions 42 engage the outer end of the hollow lock member 38, the inner sidesof these edge portions being flush with the interior cylindrical surface of said hollow lock member. The ears 41 are clinched backwardly onto the casing end wall 1 to hold the lock member 38 in assembly with this wall. Rotation of the lock member 38 is prevented by the engagement of the ears 41 with the ends of the arcuate portions 42. Tillie-opening 43 in. the casing end wall is coaxial with the key or look opening 44 in the handle. F or the sake of appearance and to afford easy application of the key 45 thereto, the tumbler lock barrel 37 is continued to be flush with the neighboring outer portion. of the handle, but is separated therefrom by a surrounding clearance of suflicient width to prevent the handle and tumbler lock barrel frei-i: engaging.

The tumbler barrel being confined to a fixed plane of rotation, the tumblers 46 are in line with the axis of the handle and are confined to a fixed zone within the casing, in which zone the tumbler receiving openings 4T formed in diametrically opposite sides of the hollow lock member 38 are also disposed. The tumblers enter the openings 47 after the tumbler barrel is turned by the inserted key 45 to bring the tumblers into register with said openings 47 and in consequence of the withdrawal of the key following this turning movement of the tumbler barrel, the tumbler barrel being thereupon locked in fixed relation with the hollow member 38. withdraw the tumblers from the openings 47, the tumbler barrel may be turned by the inserted key to remove the tumblers from alignment with the openings to bring the tumblers out of locking relation with the hollow lock member 38, imperforate portions of this member then holding the tumblers out of locking relation with it.

The turning movements imparted to the tumbler barrel by the key are imparted from the tumbler barrel to the contact actuating ring 26 by means of the bridge piece 48 that faces the inner-end of member 38 and is in splined or sliding connection with the inner end ofthe tumbler barrel which is elongated into oblong shape and slidingl-y re ceived in a correspondingly shaped opening formed in said bridge piece. The outer ends ofthe bridge 48 are bent into zig-zag shape and extend toward the front of the casing end wall 1, the extreme end of the bridge 48 extending angularly to the axis of the casing and projecting into and slidable with in enlargements 49- of the bore of the ring 26 to have sliding engagement with this ring. The bore enlargements 49 terminate sufliciently short of the inner end of the bore of the ring 26 to afford shoulders that are engaged by the outer endof the bridge 48 whereby the springs 24 in pressing outwardly upon the ring 26 cause this ring to press outwardlyupon the outer ends of the bridge 48 and cause this bridge to press upon or be pressed toward the inner end of the inwardly extending tubular casing and locking portion 38 to keep the bridge and ring 26assembled with the barrel 37. By means of this construction, the bridge piece 48 is held in assembly with the casing and lock ing'portion 38 by the same spring pressure that positions the contact actuating ring 26 and the triangular contact carrying plate 20. When the key is inserted and turned in an unlocking directioin the tumbler barrel is turned and with it the contact actuating ring 26, this ring, in this turning movement, effecting closure of the ignition or power controlling circuit. When the key is reversel-y turned, the tumbler barrel is reversehen the key is inserted to ly turned and the ignition circuit is consequently opened. The tumblers are now in register with the openings 4:7 in the hollow lock member 38. \Vhen the key is withdrawn while the tumblers are in this position, the tumblers enter said openings 47 to lock the said ignition circuit open. When the contact actuating ring 26 is in its ignition circuit opening position, the enlargements 49 ot the bore of this ring are desirably in register with the openings 47. The openings +i9 are oi such size and the tumblers 46 are oi such length that these tumblers may enter the openin s 49 when these 47 so that the tumblers will also have direct locking relation with the ring 26 when it is in ignition circuit opening position, the portions oi" the ring 26 delining the sides of theopenings 4:9 constituting locking formations,

The contact carriers 17 and 20, being adapted to turn, serve as actuators in direct adjusting relation to the contacts carried thereby. The rings 26 and 28, which are both preferably, but not necessarily, in the zone of the lock member 38, serve as actuators for said contact carriers and, through these carriers, as actuators for said contacts.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. The combination with a casing; of a hollow lock member fixed upon an end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into and having a side opening within the casing; a tumbler barrel mounted to turn within said hollow lock member; a key operated tumbler movable into and out of said opening and carried by the tumbler barrel, this tumbler being laterally adjustable by the key and serving to turn the tumbler barrel when turned by the key; and a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said tumbler barrel being in line with the axis of the handle, the bandle being formed to permit passage of a key.

The combination with a casing; of a. hollow lock member fixed upon an end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into and having a side opening within the casing; a tumbler barrel mounted to turn within said hollow lock member; a key operated tumbler movable into and out oi said opening and carried by the tumbler barrel, this tumbler being laterally adjustable by the. key and serving to turn the tumbler barrel when turned by the key; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said tumbler barrel being in line wit-h the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key and a ring surrounding said hollow lock member and coupled with the tumbler barrel to be turned thereby, this ring having a locking formation located to be engaged by the tumbler when the tumbler is in its outermost position to enable the tumbler to directly hold this ring from rotation.

3. The combination with a casing, oi? a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable. key operated, locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior oi the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being "formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surroundii'ig said lock member; and a bridgepiece facing the inner end of said lock mei'nber and in sliding engagement with said ring and said rotatable locking device.

l. The combination with a casing; of? a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said lock member; and a bridge piece coupled with said locking device and coupled with said ring and facing the inner end of said lock member.

5. The combination with a casing; of a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the bandle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said lock member; and a bridge piece slidingly coupled with said locking device and coupled with said ring and facing the inner end 01'? said lock member.

6. The combination with a casing; of a lock member upon an end wall of the easing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior ot the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said lock member; and. a bridge piece coupled with said locking device and slidingly coupled with said ring and facing the inner end of said lock member.

7. The combination with a casing; of a ill Ill)

means lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a l'iandle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said look member; and a bridge piece slidingly coupled with said locking device and slidingly coupled with said ring and facing the inner end of said lock member.

8. The combination with a casing; oi a hollow lock member fixed upon an end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into and having a side opening within the casing; a tumbler barrel mounted to turn within said hollow lock member; a key operated tumbler movable into and out of said opening and carried by the tumbler barrel, this tumbler being laterally adjustable by the key and serving to turnthe tumbler barrel when turnedby the key; a handle n 3011 the exterior of the casing and mo ntec to turn; said tumbler barrel being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; and a ring surrounding said hollow lock member and coupled with the tumbler barrel to be turned thereby.

j 9. The combination with a casing; of a hollow lock member fixed upon an end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with. an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into and having a side opening within the casing; a tumbler barrel mounted to turn within said hollow lock member; a key operated tumbler movable into and out of said opening and carried by the tumbler barrel, this tumbler being laterally adjustable by the key and serving to turn the tumbler barrel when turned by the key; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said tumbler barrel being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said hollow lock member; and a bridge piece coupled with said ring and in splined connection with the inner end of the tumbler barrel to be turned thereby to turn said ring.

10. The combination with a casing; of a hollow member fixed upon an end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow member projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device within the casing and said hollow member; and a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said l'oeking'device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key.-

11. The combination with a casing; oi a hollow member having its bore in register with an opening formed through a casing end wall, a hollow member projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking device within the casing and saidhollow member; and a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said locking device being in line withthe axis of the handle, the handle being formed to per mit passage of akey. I v

12'. The combination with a casing; of a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable,

key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said locking de vice being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring snrrounding said lock member; and abridge piece facing tl-iefinner end of said lock memlier and in sliding engagement with said rotatable locking device and] coupled with said'ring.

13. The combinationwitha casing; of a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing; a rotatable, key operated locking, device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a ring surrounding said lock member; and abridge piece facing the inner end of said lock member and in sliding engagement with saidfring and coupled with said rotatable locking device. V 14. The combination with a casing; of a lock member upon an end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing and pro videdwith a portion within the casing for engagement with an element of a locking device; a rotatable key operated locking device adj acent and having anelement engageable with said lock member portion; and a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn; said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key.

15. The combination with a casing; of a lock member fixed upon the front end wall of the casing and projecting into the easing and provided with a portion within the casing for engagement with an element of a locking device; a rotatable, keyop erated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member portion; and a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key.

16. The combination with a casing; of a hollow lock member fixed upon the front end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this easing end wall, this hollow lock member' projecting into and having a side opening within the casing; a tumbler barrel mounted to turn within said hollow lock member; a key operated tumbler movable into and out of said opening and carried by the tumbler barrel this tumbler being laterally adjustable by the key and serving to turn the tumbler barrel when turned by the key; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing, said tumbler barrel being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a member coupled with the handle to be operable thereby and located within the casing and in the zone of said lock member; and a member coupled with the tumbler barrel to be operated thereby.

17. The combination with a casing; of a hollow lock member fixed upon the front end wall of the casing and having its bore in register with an opening formed through this casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into the casing; a rotatable key operated locking device within the casing and said hollow lock member; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a member coupled with the handle to be operable thereby and located within the casing and in the zone of said hollow lock member; and a member coupled with the key operated locking device to be operated thereby.

18. The combination with a casing; of a hollow lock member having its bore in register with an opening formed through the front casing end wall, this hollow lock member projecting into the casing; a 1:0- tatable, key operated locking device Within the casing and said hollow lock member;

a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a member coupled with the handle to be operable thereby and located within the easing and in the zone of said hollow lock member; and a member coupled with the key operated locking device to be operated thereby.

19. The combination with a casing; of a lock member upon the front end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing and provided with a portion within the casing for engagement with an element of a locking device; a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element en gageable with said lock member portion; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a member coupled with the handle to be operable thereby and located within the easing and in the zone of said lock member; and a membercoupled with the key operated locking device to be operated thereby.

20. The combination with a casing; of a lock member fixed upon the front end wall of the casing and projecting into the casing and provided with a portion within the casing for engagement with an element of a locking device: a rotatable, key operated locking device adjacent and having an element engageable with said lock member portion; a handle upon the exterior of the casing and mounted to turn upon the front of the casing, said locking device being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of a key; a member coupled with the handle to be operable thereby and located within the casing and in the zone of said lock member; and a member coupled with the key operated locking device to be operated thereby.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

